The Arco Iris Team

The Arco Iris team is a group of compassionate and motivated teenagers from Tipitapa who work year-round volunteering in their community to support community development and literacy. Their abilities and responsibilities are diverse, as they constantly challenge themselves and attain new skills through experience. From serving as librarians, building benches and tables, and leading workshops for other community members, the Arco Iris team demonstrates the enormous power of youth organizing.

During delegations, the Arco Iris teens work alongside the New York delegates, forming lifelong bonds despite any language and cultural differences. Many of our New York teen volunteers describe their friendships with the Arco Iris youth as the most meaningful and impactful aspect of the Youth Delegation experience.

Many of these teens come from limiting economic backgrounds, and despite their love for learning and passion for sharing that love with children, not all of them have the resources to continue onto university-level studies upon graduating from high school. Programs supported by Dos Pueblos seek to promote the leadership skills and employability of these teens, and we hope to soon take that support a step further by funding college scholarships for these youth who make our work possible.

If you would be interested in supporting the higher education of these empathetic and hard-working Tipitapa teenagers, please email us at info@tipitapa.org.

Meet the Members

Wendy Matus Osorio

Wendy is in college studying accounting.

Anielka Gomez

Kevin Ezequiel Delgadillo Gomez

Kevin is in his last year of high school and he dreams of perfecting his English and studying international relations in college. His favorite project has been the construction of the adobe library in Chilamatillo.

Josseling Urrutia

Greston Isaac Ortiz

Erick Jose Gomez Mendoza

Erick is in college studying International Relations. His favorite experiences as a member of Arco Iris have been building the adobe libraries.

Jubelkis Laleska Velasquez Martinez

Jubelkis graduated from high school and aspires to learn English and study culinary arts. Her favorite experience as a member of Arco Iris has been building friendships with the teens from New York.

Jordan Palma

Jordan has graduated from high school and dreams of studying agronomy in college. His favorite project has been the construction of the adobe library in Chilamatillo.

Adriana Isamar Delgadillo

Adriana studied psychology in university for a year and worked in a factory to cover the tuition costs. Due to the extremely harsh conditions and treatment at her job, she had to quit and leave school. However, she still aspires to fulfill her dream and receive her degree. Her favorite project has been the construction of the adobe libraries.

Alex Javier Arauz Diaz

Alex is in his last year of high school and dreams of studying astrophysics. One of his favorite projects has been the construction of eco-stoves in the community of Villa Japon where Arco Iris collaborated with a group of teens from California to build stoves that burn less firewood and protect against respiratory illnesses.

Cesia Judith Robles Gaitan

Cesia is the current president of the Arco iris team and will finish high school this year. She plans to pursue a degree in International Relations. Her favorite project was the construction of the adobe library in Chilamatillo.

Tatianna Castillo

Tatianna is a high school graduate who plans to pursue a career in accounting. Her favorite project has been the construction of eco-stoves which are designed to save firewood and protect the lungs of women who cook over open fires.

The Tipitapa Team

Rosa

Karen

Jonathan

Rosa Gomez, a Tipitapa community organizer and our Social Programs Coordinator, opened the first library supported by Dos Pueblos in her home. She, along with her children Karen and Jonathan, work tirelessly year-round to ensure that the projects and programs we support are active, useful and sustainable. They also play an important role in our delegations, coordinating our agenda and assisting with interpretations.